1. Agronomic Value of Nutrients in Biosolids Randall Warden A & L Great Lakes Laboratories Fort Wayne, IN Quality Analyses for Informed Decisions

2. Presentation Outline  Assessment of nutrient levels  Soil testing  Biosolids analysis  Crop nutrient requirements and responsiveness  Process to determine nutrient value ($)

3. Assessing Nutrient Levels - What is a Soil Test?  Analysis of a soil sample to determine nutrient availability to plants  Extract all or proportional part of plant- available nutrients from soil  Goal – prescription fertilizer application

4. SampleIDpHP(ppm)K(ppm)Zn(ppm)Mn(ppm) 15.69 VL 61 L 1.7 L 60 VH 24.66 VL 17 VL 1.7 L 3 VL 36.247 H 155 H 3.1 M 62 VH 47.612 L 149 M 6.1 H 18 M

5. Soil Test Unit Very Low LowMediumHigh Very High pH0.0 - 5.05.1 - 5.85.9 - 6.97.0 - 7.57.6+ Organic Matter%0.0 - 0.91.0 - 2.52.6 - 4.95.0 - 6.97.0+ Phosphorus (P1)ppm0 - 910 - 1920 - 2930 - 4950+ Potassium%0.0 - 0.70.8 - 1.41.5 - 2.62.7 - 4.04.1+ Magnesium%0.0 - 5.05.1 - 10.010.1 - 15.015.1 - 25.025.1+ Calcium%0.0 - 45.045.1 - 55.055.1 - 75.075.1 - 85.085.1+ Sulfur (S)ppm0 - 34 - 78 - 1213 - 1718+ Zinc (Zn)ppm0.0 - 0.91.0 - 2.93.0 - 4.95.0 - 10.010.1+ Manganese (Mn)ppm0 - 56 - 1415 - 2930 - 4950+ Iron (Fe)ppm0 - 45 - 910 - 5051+ Copper (Cu)ppm0.0 - 0.40.5 - 1.11.2 - 3.03.1+ Boron (B)ppm0.0 - 0.30.4 - 0.50.6 - 1.21.3 - 2.52.6+ Soil Test Ratings

6. Soil Test Rating Probability of Economic Response to Fertilizer Application Very Low (VL) Very High Low (L) High Medium (M) Medium High (H) Low Very High (VH) None Soil Test Ratings & Economics

7. Soil Test Nutrient Level VLVHM Probability of Crop Response HighLowMedium ROI $

8. CROPYIELDNitrogenNPhosphate P 2 O 5 Potash K 2 O Alfalfa 10 T 600120600 Corn 200 bu. grain 1508757 stover 11627209 Soybeans 60 bu. Grain 2505086 Stover 802060 Wheat 100 bu. grain 1606040 straw 5012140 Nutrient Utilization (lbs/acre)

9. CROPYIELDMagnesium Mg Calcium Ca Sulfur S Alfalfa10 T 5328051 Corn 200 bu. grain 18415 stover 473818 Soybeans 60 bu. Grain 1712 Stover 109014 Wheat 100 bu. grain 1558 straw 132116 Nutrient Utilization (lbs/acre)

10. Crop Pounds per Acre BZnMnFeCu Alfalfa 10 tons 0.700.651.101.500.18 Corn 200 Bushels 0.190.571.351.400.15 Soybeans 60 bushels 0.220.300.751.050.14 Wheat 80 bushels 0.080.340.550.700.09 Crop Nutrient Removal

11. CropMnBCuZnFe Alfalfa MedHigh LowMed Corn MedLowMedHighMed Soybeans HighLow MedHigh Wheat HighLowHighLow Micronutrient Response

12. Fertilizer Prices Change NutrientUnit20042008 Nitrogenlb$0.35$0.65 Phosphate (P 2 O 5 )lb$0.19$0.58 Potash (K 2 O)lb$0.18$0.33 Sulfur (S)lb$0.39 Zinc (Zn)lb$1.34 Manganese (Mn)lb$0.80 Copper (Cu)lb$1.68 Boron (B)lb$0.75 Limeton$25.00$30.00

13. Current Crop Production Costs   Corn – 180 bu/A – medium soil tests   Nitrogen (210 lb x $0.65/lb = $136.50)   Phosphate (50 lb x $0.58/lb = $29.00)   Potash (200 lb x $0.33/lb = $66.00) Per acre fertilizer cost = $231.50 Cost per 80 acres = $18,520.00

14. Biosolids Analysis - Anaerobic Parameter Lbs per Dry Ton % Available Lbs per Dry Ton Available Unit Cost (lb) Nutrient Value Lime 175100%175$0.015$2.63 Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 28.1100%28.1$0.65$18.27 Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC*) 87.140%34.8$0.58$20.21 Potassium (K2O) 3.1100%3.1$0.33$1.02 Calcium (Ca) 87.555%48.1$0.00 Magnesium (Mg) 9.355%5.1$0.00 Sulfur (S) 4955%27.0$0.39$10.51 Zinc (Zn) 3.665%2.3$1.34$3.14 Iron (Fe) 58.365%37.9$0.00 Manganese (Mn) 1.665%1.0$0.80$0.83 Copper (Cu) 1.565%1.0$1.68$1.64 Boron (B) BDL65%0.0$0.75$0.00 “Maximum” Nutrient Value $58.25 Parameter Lbs per Dry Ton Available Unit Cost (lb) Nutrient Value Lime 175$0.015$2.63 Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 28.1$0.65$18.27 Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC*) 34.8$0.58$20.21 Potassium (K2O) 3.1$0.33$1.02 Sulfur (S) 27.0$0.39$10.51 Zinc (Zn) 2.3$1.34$3.14 Manganese (Mn) 1.0$0.80$0.83 Copper (Cu) 1.0$1.68$1.64 Boron (B) 0.0$0.75$0.00

15. Biosolids Analysis – N-Viro Parameter Lbs per Dry Ton% Available Lbs per Dry Ton Available Unit Cost (lb) Nutrient Value Lime 726100%726$0.015$10.89 Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 3.744100%3.7$0.65$2.43 Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC*) 27.620%5.5$0.58$3.20 Potassium (K2O) 6.9100%6.9$0.33$2.28 Calcium (Ca) 44955%247$0.00 Magnesium (Mg) 35.255%19.4$0.00 Sulfur (S) 106.620%21.3$0.39$8.31 Zinc (Zn) 1.965%1.2$1.34$1.65 Iron (Fe) 61.665%40.0$0.00 Manganese (Mn) 1.265%0.8$0.80$0.62 Copper (Cu) 0.2865%0.2$1.68$0.31 Boron (B) 1.165%1.0$0.75$0.00 “Maximum” Nutrient Value $29.70 Parameter Lbs per Dry Ton Available Unit Cost (lb) Nutrient Value Lime 726$0.015$10.89 Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) 3.74$0.65$2.43 Phosphorus (P2O5) (PSC*) 27.6$0.58$3.20 Potassium (K2O) 6.9$0.33$2.28 Sulfur (S) 21.3$0.39$8.31 Zinc (Zn) 1.2$1.34$1.65 Manganese (Mn) 0.8$0.80$0.62 Copper (Cu) 0.2$1.68$0.31 Boron (B) 1.0$0.75

16. Soil Test Percent of Soil Samples by Test Rating* V Low LowMediumHigh V High pH pH1.710.349.423.215.5 Phosphorus Phosphorus2.210.615.126.845.3 Potassium Potassium1.29.449.529.810.0 Sulfur Sulfur1.240.141.217.5 Zinc Zinc31.640.023.25.3 Manganese Manganese4.09.814.662.49.3 Copper Copper0.244.942.412.5 Boron Boron31.327.035.15.80.8 2007 Michigan Soil Test Summary * > 50,000 samples

17. Biosolids Marketing Approach  Disposal: no value for nutrients, large $ incentive for nutrient use, no cost recovery  Partial cost recovery: price < fertilizer, less user $ incentive, labor, fuel  Market Value: $ price  fertilizer, organic matter, micronutrients, nutrient availability, labor, fuel, demand, communication

18. Opportunities and Challenges   Increasing fertilizer costs ($/A)   Fertilizer availability - timing   Cost recovery   Fair valuation of biosolids nutrients (test)   Nutrient need (test)   Availability of nutrients (treatment process)   Stewardship   Consistency of Communication

19. Time to Stop – Questions?